Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

It doesn't matter where you are in the world, the most important things to any chef are their salt, knives and ingredients. Bought, Borrowed and Stolen brings them together, as they should be, for the first time.

Allegra McEvedy's unique outlook brings together food, history and culture in one sumptuous volume. From all around the world, she relays stories from her past: recipes shared, experiences gained and techniques learned.

An authentic glimpse into food and cultures from all around the world. Each chapter starts with a general introduction to the place, from China to Malawi and America to Brazil, continuing with an intricate knife detail page and several recipes from the country.

Review:

"A seasoned traveler by age eight, British celebrity chef McEvedy (The Good Cook) began keeping a diary of her travels, mostly focusing on what she ate. Pretty soon she found herself collecting knives as well. Here, she pairs the two in a terrifically entertaining travelogue/cookbook. Each of the 20 entries (one for each country) begins with a knife she picked up on her travels, as well as an overview of the country and/or key cities, and a handful of recipes for local dishes. Those looking for the best dish to eat in Marrakech or Barcelona will be disappointed — she singles out the memorable, not the iconic — but readers with a sense of adventure will find her garrulous prose and the book's eye-catching photos difficult, if not impossible, to put down. Essays on topics ranging from the suction-free knife she picked up in San Francisco's Japantown to life on the river in Burma will inspire readers to update their passports, while recipes taken from her travels (Pumpkin & Ginger donuts inspired by NYC's Donut Factory, simple venison hot dogs with mustard and pickled gherkins from the Arctic Circle) make for a charming read that far surpasses the standard celebrity chef cookbook. (Oct.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Allegra McEvedy founded, with partners Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent, Leon, the award-winning, healthy, fast-food restaurant chain, which currently has eight London restaurants, with more planned for 2008. Leon was voted "Best New Restaurant" by judges Rick Stein, Gordon Ramsay, Nigel Slater, Heston Blumenthal and Jay Rayner in the 2005 Observer food awards. In 2008 Allegra was awarded an MBE for services to the hospitality industry.

"Publishers Weekly Review"
by Publishers Weekly,
"A seasoned traveler by age eight, British celebrity chef McEvedy (The Good Cook) began keeping a diary of her travels, mostly focusing on what she ate. Pretty soon she found herself collecting knives as well. Here, she pairs the two in a terrifically entertaining travelogue/cookbook. Each of the 20 entries (one for each country) begins with a knife she picked up on her travels, as well as an overview of the country and/or key cities, and a handful of recipes for local dishes. Those looking for the best dish to eat in Marrakech or Barcelona will be disappointed — she singles out the memorable, not the iconic — but readers with a sense of adventure will find her garrulous prose and the book's eye-catching photos difficult, if not impossible, to put down. Essays on topics ranging from the suction-free knife she picked up in San Francisco's Japantown to life on the river in Burma will inspire readers to update their passports, while recipes taken from her travels (Pumpkin & Ginger donuts inspired by NYC's Donut Factory, simple venison hot dogs with mustard and pickled gherkins from the Arctic Circle) make for a charming read that far surpasses the standard celebrity chef cookbook. (Oct.)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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